Jewelry bracelet catch

ABSTRACT

A JEWELRY BRACELET CATCH INCLUDING A FIRST AND SECOND MUTUALLY ENGAGEABLE MEMBERS, ONE OF SAID MEMBERS DEFINING A RECESS INTO WHICH A LEAST A PORITION OF THE OTHER OF SAID MEMBERS MAY BE POSITIONED FOR NON-ROTATIONAL ENGAGEMENT, AND SAID SLIDING LOCKING MEANS MOUNTED ON ONE OF   SAID ELEMENTS AND SELECTIVELY ENGAGEABLE WITH AT LEAST ONE RECESS ON THE OTHER OF SAID ELEMENTS.

Feb. 16, 1971 B. sHTElNsHLEu-'ER JEWELRY BRACELET CATCH 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed March l1, 1969 Feb- 16, 1971 B. sHTElNsHLElF-ER 3,562,873

. JEWELRY BRACELET CATCH Filed March ll, 1969 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F98 Fg@112913 UnitedStates Patent O 3,562,878 JEWELRY BRACELET CATCH BorisShteinshleifer, 245 E. 11th St., New York, N.Y. 10063 Filed Mal'. 11,1969, Ser. No. 806,086 Int. Cl. A44c 5/18 U.S. Cl. 24-265 5 ClaimsABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A jewelry bracelet catch including first andsecond mutually engageable members, one of said members defining arecess into which at least a portion of the other of said members may bepositioned for non-rotational engagement, and said sliding locking meansmounted on one of said elements and selectively engageable with at leastone recess on the other of said elements.

This invention relates generally to the field of jewelry findings, andmore particularly to an improved jewelry bracelet catch which in use maybe substantially concealed from view, so that the ends of a band withwhich the catch is associated may be substantially abutted to provide anattractive appearance.

Particularly in the case of womens jewelry, such as watch bands, andbracelets, it is desirable to conceal as much as possible of the catchmeans from view, so as not to detract from the overall appearance of thearticle of jewelry with which it is used. While in the case of braceletsof relatively thick cross section, it is already known in the art toconceal interlocking catch members within the hollow portions of thecross section, many jewelry bands are not of hollow configuration, sothat this incidental advantage is not available.

It is among the principal objects of the present invention to provide animproved jewelry bracelet catch having first and second mutuallyengageable members, in which the major portions of the same are adaptedto underlie the undersurface of a bracelet band, leaving only a minimumportion of the same exposed to view.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of an improvedjewelry bracelet catch possessed of the above advantage which can bereadily manipulated using the fingers of only a single hand of the user.

Still another object of the invention lies in the provision of animproved je-welry catch which cannot be readily unintentionally openedfrom a locked condition.

Still another object of the invention lies in the provision of a jewelrybracelet clamp which may be conveniently fabricated from metallicstampings, thereby simplifying manufacturing operations.

A further object of the invention lies in the provision of an improvedcatch possessed of the above advantages, in which the total cost offabrication, using precious metals, may be relatively low, and directlycomparable with existing prior art devices, thereby permittingconsequent wide sale, distribution and use.

These objects, as well as other incidental ends and advantages, willmore fully appear in the progress of the following disclosure, and bepointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing, to which reference will be made in the specification,similar reference characters have been ernployed to designatecorresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view thereof.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged top plan view, corresponding to 3,562,878 PatentedFeb. 16, 1971 ICE that seen in FIG. 1, and showing certain of thecomponent parts in altered relative position.

FIG. 4 is an end elevational view thereof.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal central sectional view thereof, as seen fromthe plane 5-5 in FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a view in perspective thereof, with the component parts in theposition shown in FIG. l.

FIG. 7 is a view in perspective of the latch plate in disengagedrelation with respect to the other parts of the device.

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of a second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 9 is a bottom plan of the second embodiment.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged top plan view, corresponding to that seen in FIG.8, and showing certain of the component parts in altered relativeposition.

FIG. ll is an end elevational view of the second embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a longitudinal central sectional view of the secondembodiment as seen from the plane 12-12 in FIG. 10.

FIG. 13 is an exploded end elevational view showing certain of thecomponent parts in separated condition.

FIG. 14 is a view in perspective of the second embodiment, with thecomponent parts in the position shown in FIG. 8.

FIG. l5 is a View in perspective of the latch plate in disengagedrelation with respect to other parts of the device.

In accordance with the invention, the device, generally indicated byreference character 10, is shown in FIG. 5 in interconnected relation,as by soldering with a band 11 forming part of an article of jewelry,the band 11 having first and second ends 12 and 13, which areselectively abut- F table when the band is worn about the arm of awearer.

The ends 12 and 13 are connected to first and second mutually engageableelements 14 and 15, respectively, the first element 14 mounting apivotally mounted locking means 16 in the form of a latch plate.

The first element 14, as has been mentioned, is preferably formedentirely from stamped parts, and includes a lower or base wall 18, firstand second end walls 19 and 20, respectively, and first and second sidewalls 21 and 22, respectively.

The base wall 18 includes a raised generally centrally located area 23penetrated by a rivet 24 which pivotally mounts the locking means 16,and is bounded by side edges 25 and 26 which are interconnected to theside walls 21 and 22.

The first end wall 19 is bounded by a fold line 27, side edges 28 and 29and an upper edge 30. The second end wall 20 is bounded by fold line 31,side edges 32 and 33 and an upper edge 34 which is positioned above theupper edge 30 a distance substantially equal to the thickness of theband 11, as best seen in FIG. 5. An outer surface 36 thereof issoldered, or otherwise suitably interconnected to the end surface of theend 13 of the band 11 such that the upper surface of the band lies inthe plane of the edge 34.

The side walls 21 and 22 are substantially identical, and may be formedfrom a single stamping. Each is bounded by upper and lower edges 36 and37, respectively (FIG. 4), as well as circular end edges 38 and 39. Anelongated slot 40 commences at a first terminal 41 located substantiallymedially between the end edges 38 and 39, and extends toward the endedge 38 to a second terminal 42 having a notch 43 extending transverselytherefrom.

The second element 15 may be formed from a single stamping, and includesfirst and second vertical walls 46 and 47, respectively, eachinterconnected to a base wall 48. The base wall 48 includes arectangular opening 49,

3 the forming of the same providing material from which to form the wall47, the wall 48 being bounded by side edges 50 and 51 and end fold lines52 and 53.

The first vertical wall 46 is provided with an open ended slot 54, andthe second vertical wall 47 is provided with a diagonally oppositecorrespondingly located open ended slot 55. A third vertical wall S6extends upwardly from a fold line 60, and includes a first surface57soldered to the first end 12 of the band 11 and a second surface 58adapted to abut the surface 59 of the second end wall 20 of the firstelement 14 upon mutual engagement of the elements 14 and 15, as bestseen in FIGS, 5 and 6.

The locking means 16 is best seen in FIGS. 3 and 7, and is most suitablymade as a single stamping from planar material. It is bounded by sideedges 61 and 62, and end edges 63 and 64, from which projecting tabs 66and 67 extend. A central opening 68 is engaged by rivet 24, whereby themeans 16 may be pivotally moved from the position shown in FIG. 3 tothat shown in FIGS. l and 4.

The device is engaged by placing the second element within the recessformed by the first element 14, such that the second end wall of theformer abuts the wall 56 of the latter. This will position the openended slots 54 and 55 in coplanar relation with respect to the means 16,and the tabs 66 and 67 may then be manually engaged to pivot the means16 whereby portions of the side edges 61 and 62 extend into the slots 54and 55. Since the configuration of the elements 14 and 15 is such thatthe positioning of one within the other prevents relative rotationalmovement, the locking action of the means 16 prevents all relativemovement. As seen in FIG. 5, the ends 12 and 13 of the band 11 will beseparated only by the thickness of the abutted walls, so that the effectcreated upon a viewer is substantially that of a continuous band. Thedevice is separated by moving the means 16 to the position shown in FIG.1, permitting the second element 15 to be lifted from engagement withthe element 14.

Turning now to the second embodiment of the invention, illustrated inFIGS. 8 through l5, inclusive, certain of the component partscorresponding to those of the first embodiment have been designated bysimilar reference characters with the additional prefix 1.

The second embodiment of the invention differs from the first embodimentin being adapted to be used in those situations `where the extension ofthe interlocking portions of the device below the band 111 is consideredobjectionable. Thus, the second end wall 120 is considerably shortenedin height, to that corresponding to the thickness of the end 113 of theband 111, and the wall 157 is downwardly turned rather than upwardlyturned, and located at the opposite end of the second element 115.Engagement of the locking means 116 is with a slot 70 in the element 115as Well as the slot 155. A pair of aligned transversely extending slots71 permit engagement of the elements 115 and 114 in the manner shown atthe left 4 hand portion of FIG. 12. The rivet 24 of the lirst embodimentis replaced by a headed over punched out portion 72, thereby simplifyingmanufacture.

I wish it to be understood that I do not consider the invention limitedto the precise details of structure shown and set forth in thisspecification, for obvious modifications will occur to those skilled inthe art to which the invention pertains.

I claim:

1. A jewelry bracelet catch for use with an elongated band, comprising:first and second selectively mutually engageable elements, said firstelement including a base wall, and a plurality of side walls defining arecess, said second element being of configuration at least partiallycorresponding to that of said recess so as to be nonrotatable withrespect to said first element when positioned therein; said secondelement having at least one opening therein, the principal axis of whichis substantially parallel to the plane of said base wall when said firstand second elements are in mutually engaged condi tion; and lockingmeans mounted on said first element for relative movement therewith, andengaging in one relative position said last mentioned opening, saidlocking means being of planar configuration and pivotally mounted onsaid base wall.

2. Structure in accordance with claim 1, there being a pair ofdiagonally opposed slots having parallel axes in said second element,movement of said locking means serving to simultaneously engage bothslots.

3. Structure in accordance with claim 2, each of said first and secondelements including an end Wall extending substantially perpendicular tothe principal plane of each respective element, said end walls beingplaced in abutted relation upon engagement of said first and secondelements.

4. Structure in accordance with claim 2, each of said rst and secondelements including an end wall extending substantially perpendicular tothe principal plane of each respective element, said end Walls beingoppositely disposed, and having opposed outer surfaces interconnectiblewith an elongated band at the free ends thereof.

5. Structure in accordance with claim 4, said locking means on saidfirst element engaging openings in said second elements disposed in bothside and ends Wall of the latter.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,467,465 9/1923 Wiedmann24-201.4

2,629,156 2/1953 Kamens et al. 24-230SLX FOREIGN PATENTS 667,804 6/1929France 24-`201BN 309,279 11/ 1955 Switzerland 24-201SL DONALD A.GRIFFIN, Primary Examiner

